tfaith08 Posted November 2, 2014 Report Share Posted November 2, 2014 I've found the limits of my stock arms and works triples w/res (setup for my weight) and need to upgrade. I ride tight trails, fast trails, open areas, and dunes. ATV Galaxy has a special for the Elka 3s front and rear set for $1495 right now, and I'm considering going with those, but I have other ideas as well. If ATV Galaxy would do it, I'd like to get a YFZ front set and Fireball arms, plus a banshee rear shock. My last option is to go with a Banshee specific long travel setup, but that'll be a pretty good bit higher. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfaith08 Posted November 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Well, though I know the value of saving money to buy a higher end setup rather than buying something that's only good enough, I can't justify spending as much as 6k on suspension as a recreational rider. I have ruled out the EVOL shocks because I don't want to limp home with an unsupported tire in the case of a seal blowing. I have ruled out the Axis shocks (my initial choice) because of the price. I have ruled out Works because I have found the limits of mine. That leaves me with Elka. As of right now, I know that the Elka 3s are going for an amazing price and that ATV Galaxy has a sale for all 3 shocks and LT Laegers for under $2100. They are also offering all 3 Elka 3s w/o arms for $1495. What I don't know is what each arm manufacturer has to offer over the other in terms of performance. I also don't know what setup information to give ATV Galaxy in the case that I do go with arms for YFZ LT shocks. In the end, my goal is to get a little more than I'll ever need for an obtainable price. I was told that Works triples would be sufficient, but they weren't. I'm trying to avoid spending $2k on something that won't be enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m671054 Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Just fyi. The fireball lt arms are around 600. The shock deal says you get what ever size shock you want at the same price. To me that means lt frontend for about 300 more than normal. Any thought about the elka linkage while your at it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusto Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Are you sure fireball of arms are 600? Is that through atv Galaxy? I like fireball the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m671054 Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 http://www.amstarmanufacturing.com/BansheeParts.html Bottom of the page for 600 All american star sure looks identical to fireball to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusto Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 i was on the phone with fireball last month, i think the guy told me they make parts for about 5 different manufacturer's....I believe AMS is one of them. I have researched this topic to death, it was my plan to start an LT bike this winter and Fireball is who i decided on. Unfortunately next week we are down to one income. Anyone selling regular +2 a arms? No LT for me this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfaith08 Posted November 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 What exactly do you mean you found the limits of your works shocks? Works are not the best shocks on the market, but if you are bottoming them out trail riding then they were not set up right. Its not like works are shit shocks, and if you set them up for your weight and bike that they will bottom out all the time. When was the last time YOU serviced those shocks and had them set up for YOUR quad? You need to decide what a-arms you are going to use before you buy shocks since different a-arm manufacturers use different length LT shocks. If you chose a company that uses a common length LT shock (18"-19.5") then you can probably find a pair of used shocks on ebay, yfzcentral or trx250r.net and have them serviced. I had a local shop service the shocks. They are set up to my weight as well. The best way I can describe what I mean by finding the limits is by saying that when I really push the bike, I have trouble getting the front end to grip on corner exit and over rough terrain, and I do occasionally bottom out with moderately sized jumps (falling flat from 10' or so). The lack of adjustability is a big problem for me. I also broke the bottom spring on the last ride we went on. The largest factor in my decision is that I need the tires to stay planted. If the Fireball arms would work better than the Laeger arms with their respective length Elka 3s, I'll go with them. This is how I see it right now: All 3 Elkas - 1495 & free shipping Above + Laeger as a kit - 2085 & free shipping That equates to $590 for the Laeger arms. Fireball arms are $650 (+shipping?) Is the $60 worth going with Fireball? Why are you trying to get a YFZ set up front end? the banshee's down fall is the actual frame style that is the issue for how it handles... throwing on "YFZ" style arms isnt going to cure it. I was thinking of the YFZ setup because I was largely uneducated in the different a-arms and shock offerings. I've since ruled it out. However, all of the other things you posted were good info and were right along the lines of what I was looking for. The decision now is between Laegers and Fireballs on the Elka 3s. Any thought about the elka linkage while your at it? Not with this purchase, but I'll be getting it soon. I'm going to include that info in the details whenever I do place the order for the shocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusto Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 $650 going through atv galaxy? Fireball quoted me 850 when i called Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99michael Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 IMO, id go with which ever application runs the longer shock... the way I see it (which I may be totally wrong on) is that even 1" longer shock means 1" more of shock travel... No,, it doesn't necessarily give it more travel. just gives it more leverage, or more use of the shocks stroke from what I've gathered. I paid somewhere around 690 shipped for the arms with black powder a little over a year ago. Straight from fireball 19.25" shocks. And paid 1930 for the stage 3 deal through atv galaxy. With the longtravel link. Just to give an idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfaith08 Posted November 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 I think I'll be going with Laeger arms. Without the bundled price, everything would be around 3200. That's 65% MSRP for a pretty good setup. Will the LT rear shock work without the Elka link? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n2otoofast4u Posted November 4, 2014 Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 Both are wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfaith08 Posted November 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 I'm gonna go with the Laeger LT and 3x Elka stage 3 with the rebound adjustment upgrade on the fronts. The total will be $2285. I do have a question though. I ride dunes, tight trails, play ride, and ride really fast trails. We don't ride any one area more than any others, so I'm having a tough time deciding on what to tell them for the shock setup. Would a trail setup do well in the dunes? Would a dune setup work well in the trails? I guess the ultimate question would be which setup will do well in all environments? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfaith08 Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Last thing... I plan on running the elka link in a few months. Would the ride be that far off if I ordered the rear shock to be setup for it but still run the stock link while I'm waiting for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tfaith08 Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 (edited) Just placed the order. The guy at ATV Galaxy told me that the Elka link needs the Elka shock that is made for it. Since I don't know where I'll be sitting in the next several months, I went with the stock link. If nothing else, I can draw something up on CAD and have it made or sell the rear and go with the full Elka rear. Also, he recommended that since I ride a variety of environments, I should get a cross-country setup. Makes sense to me. He also stated that trails and dunes are similar, but dune setup offers more roll. Edited November 10, 2014 by tfaith08 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusto Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Do the four strokes have a chance against your banshee ice racing? They can't be close to you on hp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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